Homemade Natural Hair Removal 101

Good day all, 
 If you haven't realized it by now, let me be the first to let you know:  I'm a homemade kinda gal. 
Sooooooo, today i bring you a Natural hair removal procedure that is very simple. This procedure is called Halawa and is brought to you from the Middle East. 


What you need: 
Brown sugar 
Lemon
Saucepan
Clean cotton fabric
and Water


Instructions: 

• Take 10 tablespoons of brown sugar, the juice of half a lemon and a tablespoon of water. Then, mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan and set on the stove to heat over high heat for 20 minutes. 
• Make sure to stir the "Halawa mixture" every five minutes so it doesn't clump in the pot or burn. 
• When the "Halawa mixture" has turned into a caramel brown color, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to a temperature that is acceptable to you. IT SHOULD be warm and have the consistency of golden syrupy honey. 
• Don't allow it to cool too much or it will go hard. 
• Take a bit of the Halawa syrup with a small spatula and evenly distribute it onto an area of your skin. To facilitate the process, you can also use strips of clean cotton fabric for the Halawa hair removal(simply lay them on top of the paste).
• Wait a few seconds and then tear off the strips with a sudden sharp movement. Make sure that you go against the direction of the hair  growth. 

Oya have fun!


Have a blessed day. Chizzy D

Mint is Awesome

  
Good day all,
Been awhile, so i was online looking for a money/finance app for my computer so that i can keep track of my money situation when i found this pretty amazing website that's....wait for it....FREEE!!!! yessoo, this site links to your bank account, sorts out all your transactions and let you know everything in a very beautiful way. You create budgets, goals(i really love this tool), and it tell you where all your money is going without you having to tell them.


It's safe because apparently, Mint uses the same 128-bit encryption and physical security that
banks use. Their practices are monitored and verified by TRUSTe,
VeriSign and Hackersafe, and supported by RSA Security.


I think this program can only be used in the United states and Canada, but i'm not sure.

Again, i will add that i was not paid to do this, i just like sharing cool things that i find that others might find useful as well.

Happy "Jesus Rose From the Dead" day. Chizzy D

Mental, Spiritual, physical, and Emotional goals for March and beyond

Good day all. 
Like i discussed yesterday I'm making new plans for March and beyond because I want to be productive. I've decided to put it in writing.  I did similar things like this when i was in school which has been all my life(lol). 

 

First, I plan on making a liberal plan for each day the night before. That way i have goals and and are more likely to achieve them.

Mental- Have a goal to read a book(gifted or bought that i have not read) and finish it by the end of the month. Substitute online T.V. movie time for this. At least one hour of reading(this is huge cause i haven't been a fan of physical reading in a long while now).


Spiritual- First thing in the morning(before ever opening up my computer) have morning devotion. 
I am currently using solo: An uncommon devotional and it's pretty amazing, totally recommend it.


Physical- Workout at least three times a week for 1 hour. Focusing on running and exercises that increase my heart rate. Run at the very beautiful park near my home or officially join that really cool and expensive gym near my home. 



Emotional- hmm i'm not sure yet. Oh i know...Work on my Chizzy D book(yep i have one, its a pretty cool personal scrapbook). Being as creative as i want, writing poems, songs, drawing things i want to sew up, just digging in the book and being creative whenever i'm feeling down.

Question: Do you make similar plans?

p.s. none of this pics were taken by me.



Have a blessed day. Chizzy :D

10 Benefits of Rising Early, and How to Do It

Good day all, 
Because i am currently jobless and have almost no commitments(don't worry things are changing), in the last month, i have been going to bed very late and waking up very late(like sometimes in the afternoons). This is not a good habit what so ever and leads to an unproductive day. Anywho my goal for the month of March is to start a new habit of waking up early and going to sleep early. I saw this article from zenhabit.net that i think will be helpful to me and anyone else who needs motivation and a push. P.S. I changed a couple of things.

  
1. Greet the day. I love being able to get up, and greet a wonderful new day. I suggest creating a morning ritual that includes saying thanks for your blessings. (morning devotions).
2. Amazing start. No jumping out of bed, late as usual, and rushing to get myself together fast.  There is no better way to start off your day than to wake early, in my experience.
3. Quietude.  The early morning hours are so peaceful, so quiet. It’s my favorite time of day. I truly enjoy that time of peace, that time to myself, when I can think, when I can read, when I can breathe.
4. Sunrise. People who wake late miss one of the greatest feats of nature, repeated in full stereovision each and every day — the rise of the sun.
5. Breakfast. Rise early and you actually have time for breakfast. I’m told it’s one of the most important meals of the day. Without breakfast, your body is running on fumes until you are so hungry at lunchtime that you eat whatever unhealthy thing you can find. The fattier and sugarier, the betterier. But eat breakfast, and you are sated until later. Plus, eating breakfast while reading my book and drinking my coffee in the quiet of the morning is eminently more enjoyable than scarfing something down on the way to work, or at your desk.
6. Exercise. There are other times to exercise besides the early morning, of course, but I’ve found that while exercising right after work is also very enjoyable, it’s also liable to be canceled because of other things that come up. Morning exercise is virtually never canceled.
7. Productivity. Mornings, for me at least, are the most productive time of day. I like to do some writing in the morning, when there are no distractions, before I check my email or blog stats. I get so much more done by starting on my work in the morning. Then, when evening rolls around, I have no work that I need to do, and I can spend it with family.
8. Goal time. Got goals? Well, you should. And there’s no better time to review them and plan for them and do your goal tasks than first thing. You should have one goal that you want to accomplish this week. And every morning, you should decide what one thing you can do today to move yourself further towards that goal. And then, if possible, do that first thing in the morning.
9. Commute. No one likes rush-hour traffic, except for Big Oil. Commute early, and the traffic is much lighter, and you get to work faster, and thus save yourself more time. Or better yet, commute by bike. (Or even better yet, work from home.)
10. Appointments. It’s much easier to make those early appointments on time if you get up early. Showing up late for those appointments is a bad signal to the person you’re meeting. Showing up early will impress them. Plus, you get time to prepare.

How to Become an Early Riser

• Don’t make drastic changes. Start slowly, by waking just 15-30 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually until you get to your goal time.
• Allow yourself to sleep earlier. You might be used to staying up late, perhaps watching TV or surfing the Internet. But if you continue this habit, while trying to get up earlier, sooner or later one is going to give. And if it is the early rising that gives, then you will crash and sleep late and have to start over. I suggest going to bed earlier, even if you don’t think you’ll sleep, and read while in bed. If you’re really tired, you just might fall asleep much sooner than you think.
• Put your alarm clock far from you bed. If it’s right next to your bed, you’ll shut it off or hit snooze. Never hit snooze. If it’s far from your bed, you have to get up out of bed to shut it off. By then, you’re up. Now you just have to stay up.
• Go out of the bedroom as soon as you shut off the alarm. Don’t allow yourself to rationalize going back to bed. Just force yourself to go out of the room. My habit is to stumble into the bathroom and go pee. By the time I’ve done that, and flushed the toilet and washed my hands and looked at my ugly mug in the mirror, I’m awake enough to face the day.
• Do not rationalize. If you allow your brain to talk you out of getting up early, you’ll never do it. Don’t make getting back in bed an option.
• Have a good reason. Set something to do early in the morning that’s important. This reason will motivate you to get up. I like to write in the morning, so that’s my reason. Also, when I’m done with that, I like to read all of your comments!
• Make waking up early a reward. Yes, it might seem at first that you’re forcing yourself to do something hard, but if you make it pleasurable, soon you will look forward to waking up early. A good reward is to make a hot cup of coffee or tea and read a book. Other rewards might be a tasty treat for breakfast (smoothies! yum!) or watching the sunrise, or meditating. Find something that’s pleasurable for you, and allow yourself to do it as part of your morning routine.
• Take advantage of all that extra time. Don’t wake up an hour or two early just to read your blogs, unless that’s a major goal of yours. Don’t wake up early and waste that extra time. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my kids’ lunches, on planning for the rest of the day (when I set my MITs), on exercising or meditating, and on reading. By the time 6:30 rolls around, I’ve done more than many people do the entire day.

Have a blessed day. Chizzy D

Rest, relax, and spend quality time with those you love

Good day all,

 During this holiday season: Rest, relax, and spend quality time with those you love.
 (Keyword here being Quality)

Merry Birth-of-Jesus-Christ yall :)

Have a blessed day. Chizzy D

How to forgive

The bible  commands us to forgive because Christ has forgiven us. Forgiving is much easier said than done as we all know. I read this article by: Leo Babauta from www.zenhabits.net and wanted to share it with you all. I hope it helps. 


Take it away Leo----------------->
We’ve all been hurt by another person at some time or another — we were treated badly, trust was broken, hearts were hurt.
And while this pain is normal, sometimes that pain lingers for too long. We relive the pain over and over, and have a hard time letting go.
This causes problems. It not only causes us to be unhappy, but can strain or ruin relationships, distract us from work and family and other important things, make us reluctant to open up to new things and people. We get trapped in a cycle of anger and hurt, and miss out on the beauty of life as it happens.
We need to learn to let go. We need to be able to forgive, so we can move on and be happy.

This is something I learned the hard way — after years of holding onto anger at a loved one that stemmed from my childhood and teen-age years, I finally let go of this anger (about 8 years ago or so). I forgave, and not only has it improved my relationship with this loved one tremendously, it has also helped me to be happier.
Forgiveness can change your life.
Forgiveness does not mean you erase the past, or forget what has happened. It doesn’t even mean the other person will change his behavior — you cannot control that. All it means is that you are letting go of the anger and pain, and moving on to a better place.
It’s not easy. But you can learn to do it.
If you’re holding onto pain, reliving it, and can’t let go and forgive, read on for some things I’ve learned.
1. Commit to letting go. You aren’t going to do it in a second or maybe not even in a day. It can take time to get over something. So commit to changing, because you recognize that the pain is hurting you.
2. Think about the pros and cons. What problems does this pain cause you? Does it affect your relationship with this person? With others? Does it affect work or family? Does it stop you from pursuing your dreams, or becoming a better person? Does it cause you unhappiness? Think of all these problems, and realize you need to change. Then think of the benefits of forgiveness — how it will make you happier, free you from the past and the pain, improve things with your relationships and life in general.
3. Realize you have a choice. You cannot control the actions of others, and shouldn’t try. But you can control not only your actions, but your thoughts. You can stop reliving the hurt, and can choose to move on. You have this power. You just need to learn how to exercise it.
4. Empathize. Try this: put yourself in that person’s shoes. Try to understand why the person did what he did. Start from the assumption that the person isn’t a bad person, but just did something wrong. What could he have been thinking, what could have happened to him in the past to make him do what he did? What could he have felt as he did it, and what did he feel afterward? How does he feel now? You aren’t saying what he did is right, but are instead trying to understand and empathize.
5. Understand your responsibility. Try to figure out how you could have been partially responsible for what happened. What could you have done to prevent it, and how can you prevent it from happening next time? This isn’t to say you’re taking all the blame, or taking responsibility away from the other person, but to realize that we are not victims but participants in life.
6. Focus on the present. Now that you’ve reflected on the past, realize that the past is over. It isn’t happening anymore, except in your mind. And that causes problems — unhappiness and stress. Instead, bring your focus back to the present moment. What are you doing now? What joy can you find in what is happening right now? Find the joy in life now, as it happens, and stop reliving the past. Btw, you will inevitably start thinking about the past, but just acknowledge that, and gently bring yourself back to the present moment.
7. Allow peace to enter your life. As you focus on the present, try focusing on your breathing. Imagine each breath going out is the pain and the past, being released from your body and mind. And imagine each breath coming in is peace, entering you and filling you up. Release the pain and the past. Let peace enter your life. And go forward, thinking no longer of the past, but of peace and the present.
8. Feel compassion. Finally, forgive the person and realize that in forgiveness, you are allowing yourself to be happy and move on. Feel empathy for the person and wish happiness on them. Let love for them, and life in general, grow in your heart. It may take time, but if you’re stuck on this point, repeat some of the ones above until you can get here.
Have a blessed day. Chizzy ;D

Make your own hair and body moisturizer **very easy**

The hair moisturizer that i use is incredibility easy to make. Everything involved is natural and simple. Perfect for every hair type.

Benefits of olive oil:

Scalp & Hair

Vitamin E, polyphenols and powerful antioxidants

Improves overall scalp and hair health

Restores, Protects, and Softens 

Soothes Dryness

Absorbs easily/deeply

Deeply conditions

Restores elasticity

Helps prevent dandruff

Reduces synthetic product buildup and pollutants

Good for scalp rashes, eczema, psoriasis and allergies

What you need:

So, basically what  you do is:

• Get some olive oil 
• Mix it with your favorite essential oil or light perfume (my favorite is Eucalyptus )
• put it in a bottle of your choice and shake it so that it mixes well
•  soooo ummmm, yep that's it :)

I was using store bought olive oil hair moisturizers(which had weird ingredients) for months until i realized that i could make my own.


TIP: Make sure you take the time to smell different essential oils, so that you pick out something you like.


Tip: You don't have to add essential oils to olive oil, you can use it just like that. I don't like the smell of olive oil, so i mask the smell with essential oil.

You can also use this as body oil during dry(winter) months..add a heavier scent to the olive oil.

Do you make any of the products you use, if so please SHARE!!!

Have an awesome day, Chizzy :D

Simpify your Life Tip #1: Edit your wardrobe

Good day,
I will be giving tips to simplifying ones life.  Today's tip comes from Zenhabits.net, awesome site by the way. This is something that i will be working on comes late December.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/renolauren/

Take it away zenhabits.net---->
Take a look at your closet — is it stuffed full of clothes you don’t wear? Do you have trouble picking out what to wear in the morning? Are there clothes you don’t fit, don’t like, or can’t wear because they are stained or torn? How about your clothes drawers? Overstuffed?
If so, your wardrobe may be in need of editing. Let’s be honest: most of us are in this category. And even though I’ve greatly simplified my clothing needs, every six months or so, I need to go through my closet to see if there’s stuff in here I no longer wear. I pull out a bunch of things and put them in a bag for donation. My closet is simpler, and my mind is more at ease.
To edit your wardrobe, here are some simple steps:

• Pull out all the clothes from your closet. Put them on your bed. Now go through this pile, one item at a time, deciding what stays and what goes. Follow these rules:
  1. If you haven’t worn an item in months, put it in the donate pile. There’s a reason you don’t wear that item — you’re probably not going to wear it again for a long while, if ever.
  2. If you no longer fit an item, donate it. Yes, you plan to lose 10 pounds to fit into that outfit. Well, when you do, go to the thrift shop and get some better-fitting items. Until then, they’re taking up space in your closet.
  3. If an item is stained or torn beyond repair, donate it. If you can repair it, put it in a bag and take it to be sewn tomorrow (or do it yourself). If that bag sits in your house or car for more than a week, you’ll probably never do it, so donate it or toss it. For myself, I often keep stained or torn clothing, if I really love an item, but I only wear it around the house. I save the good clothes for company. :)
  4. If an item is out of style or doesn’t match anything else you own, consider donating it. OK, if you really love it and still wear it, go ahead and keep it. Butterfly bell-bottoms? You’re still cool.
  5. When in doubt, put it in a storage container, label it with today’s date, and put it out of sight for a few months. If you ever really want to wear it, it’s still there. But if you open it in a few months, and you never needed it, donate it.
  6. For seasonal clothes, such as winter or summer clothing, put it in a container and label it. When the season comes, break out that container. No use keeping it in your closet the whole year round. Where I live, there’s always tropical goodness year round, so this isn’t an issue.
• If you still have a lot of clothes left, consider the following:
  1. Keep clothes that are of the same color scheme, and toss the rest. This way, everything matches, and you don’t have to worry about what goes with your chartreuse blouse. Neutral colors like tan and white are great, with some color tossed in. I avoid bright colors, especially those that bleed in the wash. I don’t like to worry about that.
  2. Keep clothes that are simple in design, and can be paired with anything. Jeans are a great example (not the kinds with bells and whistles, the simple kinds). You can put just about any shirt with jeans, and you’re good to go. Shoot for this kind of philosophy. Don’t have pants or a skirt that can only go with one or two other items. Be able to mix and match with ease and without some kind of complicated chart.
  3. Make comfort a priority. Looks are important, but comfort is more important. You want to be at ease in whatever you wear, so keep that in the forefront as you edit your clothing.
• Hang the clothes back in the closet nicely, in some order. Pairing by color is nice, and has an especially nice effect if you use the same color hangers. If you have fewer clothes, they look much nicer in the closet.
• Repeat this process with your clothes drawers. Throw out the torn underwear and stained socks. Once you weed out a lot of the stuff, fold them neatly and put them back in your drawers nicely. Again, fewer clothes look much nicer in your drawers.
• Edit your wardrobe every 6 months or so. It’s best if you refrain from buying too many more unnecessary clothes, but I know some of you are shopaholics, and even the rest of us accumulate stuff over time. Make this a regular event, and you’ll keep your wardrobe nice and simple.

Personally, I simplified my wardrobe years ago. In fact, new employers know that I dress very simply, usually wearing jeans or slacks with a T-shirt or polo shirt and sandals or Docs. I’m a simple guy, and if my employer doesn’t like it, they don’t have to hire me. I feel my talents are more than worth any casualness. And when I need to dress up, I do have some button-down shirts and ties for emergencies, but I’m not comfortable in them on a daily basis.
I still need to edit my wardrobe, though, on a regular basis. I know when it’s time when it’s hard to find stuff, and when I look through my closet and find lots of stuff I rarely wear.
Simplify your wardrobe, and your life will be much simpler and stress-free. It’s wonderful. Give it a try!